DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The San Antonio Market and nearby Medical Treatment Facilities, to include your very own 7th Medical Group, will transition to MHS GENESIS Jan. 22, 2022.
MHS GENESIS is the new electronic health record for the Military Health System. The health record delivers data to healthcare teams wherever patients receive treatment -- whether it’s at a medical facility within the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Coast Guard. This record will stay with service members from the time of their enlistment through veteran status.
When fully deployed, MHS GENESIS will provide a single medical and dental record for service members, veterans and their families. Modernizing the electronic health record improves the quality, safety and continuity of care for our patients. In preparation for this new system, the entire health care team has been diligently training on the system for months and will continue to do so through our Go Live date in January.
“Aside from its increased efficiency, the enhanced technology allows for improved cyber-security, better protecting and managing everyone’s health information and better positioning ourselves against our nation’s peer and near-peer competitors which is a key priority item here at Dyess and in our Air Force,” stated Col. Elizabeth Somsel, 7th Medical Group Commander.
PATIENT IMPACT
As the 7th Medical Group transitions to MHS GENESIS, patients can expect to see an increase in wait times and a reduction in available appointments as healthcare teams adapt office and clinic practices to new, standardized workflows. Based on industry averages, and the DoD’s experience, it takes roughly 90 days for healthcare teams to adjust to the new system and return to normal wait times.
ACCESS TO CARE
Currently, we are only capable of scheduling appointments up to Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Once all appointments between now and Jan. 20 are booked, we recommend patients continue to call the appointment line at 325-696-4677 to check back for any appointment cancellations. We also have some virtual options available, from virtual appointments with our providers to TRICARE-authorized resources such as Telemynd and Doc on Demand (Dependents ONLY). Our virtual appointments allow our patients to communicate with their providers via phone call. These appointments can be booked by calling the appointment line at 325-696-4677. Telemynd is a TRICARE-covered mental health service via secure video chat for dependents without a referral as well as Active Duty members with a referral. Doc on Demand is another TRICARE-covered virtual urgent care and behavioral health services available only to Active Duty family members at this time. Family members can go to https://www.humana.com/telemedicine for information on how to get registered and what the program offers.
You may also elect to visit a TRICARE-authorized Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) by following the instructions below. The Urgent Care Clinics in-network are: Dr. J’s Express Care/Nextcare, Affordacare, Abilene Diagnostic Clinic, and Hendrick Urgent Care Centers. Please note that all UCC’s are currently requiring appointments at this time and Express ER and My Emergency Room are NOT in network.
Following the MHS GENESIS implementation on January 22, we recommend that patients continue to call the appointment line at 325-696-4677 to schedule an on-base appointment. For questions regarding a network referral for specialty care off base, patients should contact their clinic or PCM team via secure messaging.
If there is no availability on base:
Active Duty:
- Must receive a referral to receive care at a TRICARE-authorized urgent care center. Call the appointment line and receive a one-time authorization or call the Nurse Advice Line after hours at (800) 874-2273, Option 1.
Dependents:
- Are authorized to visit a TRICARE-authorized urgent care center without a referral.
Retirees:
- Are authorized to visit a TRICARE-authorized urgent care center without a referral.
PHARMACY: Beneficiaries should be sure to have prescription refills on hand or look into using a TRICARE network retail pharmacy or the mail-order service. For more information on home delivery, visit https://www.tricare.mil/homedelivery.
Please note, as of December 15, 2021, Sam’s and Walmart pharmacies are no longer part of the TRICARE pharmacy network. However, CVS pharmacies are now part of the TRICARE pharmacy network.
Patients requiring prescription refills in January should submit their refill requests prior to the GENESIS go live date on January 22, 2022. For faster refill prescription pickup services, the Pharmacy recommends patients use the ScriptCenter kiosk located inside the BX on base, which can be accessed 24 hours a day. Patients can ask the pharmacy staff for more information on how to use the ScriptCenter kiosk.
LAB/RADIOLOGY: Patients may experience longer wait times while staff adjust to the new processes. We recommend that patients get their routine radiology appointments taken care of early to avoid extended wait times.
IMMUNIZATIONS: The immunizations clinic is offering COVID-19 shots for adults and pediatrics, along with booster shots. All COVID-19 shots are by appointment only, which can be booked by calling the appointment line at 325-696-4677 or by using the websites https://www.dyess.af.mil/coronavirus/ or https://www.tricare.mil/dap. All other immunizations can be received on a walk-in basis at this time.
MHS GENESIS PATIENT PORTAL
The MHS GENESIS Patient Portal will replace TRICARE Online after the records transfer using the same DS Logon access, https://myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil/. Patients can also access their online health record by using a Common Access Card or DFAS account credentials. The Portal will provide 24/7 secure access to personal health information, to include lab results, prescription refills, secure messages with care teams, and more.
As long as one of those credentials – DS Logon, CAC or DFAS – are active, patients will have immediate access to the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal and the functionality that comes with it. While patients will be able to view their health information, they will not have the ability to make appointments through the GENESIS Portal at this time.
Beneficiaries are encouraged to register for access to the new Patient Portal if they have not used DS Logon previously. Visit https://patientportal.mhsgenesis.health.mil or scan the QR code below.
We ask for your support, patience and understanding as we work to implement this new system to improve your healthcare. Follow the 7th Medical Group Facebook page for the latest information at https://www.facebook.com/7thMedicalGroup.
